Words: Jonathan Wells
Near Phoenix, Arizona — itself sitting in the sprawling ‘Valley of the Sun’ — is Red Rocks. It’s a 21st century ranch for any cowboys out there who can’t live without their mod-cons and, perched high on the rocky desert mountainside, it’s a true modern oasis.
Created by husband and wife team Cavin and Claire Costello, who go by the professional moniker The Ranch Mine, the property is just one of many inspired by their wider travels around Arizona, where they discovered the true pioneer spirit.
But Red Rocks, as you can see, is something special. Stunningly, it’s actually a renovation, and the original owners first lived in a house built Spanish Colonial Revival style. No more. Red Rocks was stripped back, designed simply and brought to minimalist life in the way you see today.
The floor plan has a smooth flow between rooms and windows have been positioned to give the views a priority — and we can see why. With vistas stretching further than the eye can see, Red Rocks may not look like an old-fashioned western, but the views play out like landscapes on a cinema screen.
An additional bedroom was also added in the refit — clad in limestone and cantilevered out over the mountainside, for equal measures luxury and peril. And, for those burning Arizonan days, over 2000 square feet of shaded exterior patios were fitted.
That is, for when you’re not in the pool. With one of the best infinity pool views we’ve seen in many moons, Red Rocks also boasts an outdoor hot tubs for when those desert night winds blow in. And this modern-day oasis hasn’t lost touch with its roots — cacti of all shapes and sizes adorn the garden.
Inside, the decor has been kept to a fairly neutral palette of walnut and white cabinetry, with quartz counters and marble tiles perfect to keep you cool after a hot day in the sun. And, of course, there’s a more obvious reason the interior is almost all white — and that’s to keep the red of the rocks the centre of everyone’s attention. And with surroundings like these, who can argue with that?
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